India-Australia to clash in 'Friendship Match'

The Indian and Australian teams have announced that they will designate their March 2 tie at the Hockey World Cup as a 'Friendship Match'.

The two teams want to mark the strong bonds, which have linked the two countries for decades, including in hockey and cricket.

The teams will play for the inaugural Ajit Pal-Charlesworth Trophy, named after two of the hockey greats of India and Australia, Ajit Pal Singh and Ric Charlesworth.

Both the champion players will be present at the match this evening.

Ajit Pal was the captain of the Indian team, which won the World Cup in 1975. He was also a member of the Indian team, which won the bronze medals at the 1968, and 1972 Olympics.

Charlesworth played in 227 international matches for Australia, including at four Olympics. He was a member of the Australian team, which won the World Cup in 1986. He has also acted as a technical adviser for the Indian men's and women's teams.

Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs Stephen Smith and India's Minister for Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal will witness the match.

Stephen Smith played in the under-age hockey team for his home state of Western Australia.

The crowd will also be entertained by a half-time performance by William Barton, one of Australia's leading players of the didgeridoo, an ancient instrument created by Australia's indigenous people from hollowed out wood.